(19) TZZ Z_¥ T (11) EP 2 601 863 A2 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 12.06.2013 Bulletin 2013/24 A47C 27/10 (2006.01) A61G 7/10 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 13157857.7 (22) Date of filing: 16.08.2007 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: Davis, David T. AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR Bethlehem, PA Pennsylvania 18017 (US) HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (74) Representative: Weyand, Tim et al Leonhard & Partner (30) Priority: 15.09.2006 US 532132 Patentanwälte Postfach 10 09 62 (62) Document number(s) of the earlier application(s) in 80083 München (DE) accordance with Art. 76 EPC: 07814160.3 / 2 063 741 Remarks: This application was filed on 05-03-2013 as a (71) Applicant: Woodlark Circle, Inc. divisional application to the application mentioned Bethlehem, PA 18017 (US) under INID code 62. (54) Double chambered air mattress (57) Adouble chambered transfer mattress (2)is pro- A one-way valve (31) is positioned through the common vided capable of partial deflation that includes a top in- wall (5) so as to provide selective air flow communication flatable mattress and a bottom inflatable mattress that between the top inflatable mattress and the bottom in- are separated by a common wall (5) from one another. flatable mattress so that when the inlet/outlet valve is A selectable inlet/outlet valve (50,34) is arranged for air- closed, air continues to escape from perforations in the flow communication between an interior chamber of the bottom inflatable mattress and the one-way valve is ac- top inflatable mattress and a source of pressurized air. tuated so as to prevent deflation of the top inflatable mat- tress. EP 2 601 863 A2 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 601 863 A2 2 Description patient rolling chambers are disclosed on the top of the transfer apparatus to provide assistance to medical per- Cross-Reference to Related Applications sonnel in beginning to roll patients reclining or lying upon the transfer apparatus, particularly in a deflated condition [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part appli- 5 on a hospital bed. cation of copending U.S. Application Serial No.[0007] All of the foregoing devices have suffered from 11/191,674, filed on 07/28/2005, which itself claims pri- an inability to be used during X-ray imaging of a patient ority from co- pending Provisional Patent Application Se- lying upon the mattress. Proper X-ray imaging requires rial No. 60/592,251, filed July 28, 2004, and entitled DOU- that the patient remain motionless during the exposure. BLE CHAMBERED AIR MATTRESS. 10 Prior art transfer mattresses tend to drift or move, and are easily moved by even small perturbations. Thus, they Field Of The Invention are required to be deflated prior to effecting X- ray imaging of the patient. Unfortunately, when deflated, the patient [0002] The present invention generally relates to pa- is forced to lie upon a very stiff table that can be quite tient transfer devices and, more particularly to a patient 15 uncomfortable for heavier patients. transfer apparatus which employs an air bearing to facil- [0008] Many of the foregoing devices also suffer from itate the transfer. the fact that when uninflated they tend to bunch causing photo images to appear upon the x-ray exposures that Background Of The Invention mask underlying physiological features of the patient. 20 There is a continuing need to be able to easily and safely [0003] Patient handling mattresses are known in the x-ray a patient on an inflated transfer mattress. art which include at least two flexible material sheets, that together define a plenum chamber, with at least one Summary Of The Invention sheet being perforated with small pinholes over at least a central surface area, and which open up directly to the 25 [0009] The present invention provides a double cham- interior of the plenum chamber. Such prior art mattresses bered transfermattress that is capable of partialdeflation. are used by arranging the perforated sheet so that it faces In one embodiment, a transfer mattress is provided that an underlying fixed, generally planar support surface, includes a top inflatable mattress and a bottom inflatable such as a floor or table. When the mattress is charged mattress that are separated by a common wall from one with pressurized air, the escape of air under pressure 30 another. The bottom inflatable mattress includes a plu- through the pinholes acts initially to jack a load placed rality of holes or perforations disposed in a bottom panel. upon the mattress above the perforated flexible sheet, A selectable inlet/outlet valve is arranged for airflow com- and thereby creates an air bearing of relatively small munication between an interior chamber of the top inflat- height between the underlying fixed, generally planar able mattress and a source of pressurized air. A one- way support surface and the perforated flexible sheet. 35 valve is positioned through the common wall so as to [0004] For example, in U. S. Patent No. 4,517,690, is- provide selective air flow communication between the sued to Wegener, an air pallet is disclosed that is formed top inflatable mattress and the bottom inflatable mattress from upper and lower thin flexible film sheets sealed at so that when said inlet/ outlet valve is closed-off from the their edges to form a plenum chamber. Wegener’s air source of pressurized air, the bottom inflatable mattress pallet functions to move a load with minimal friction over 40 deflates by air escaping through the plurality of holes or an underlying generally planar fixed support surface. The perforations whereby the one-way valve is actuated so bottom thin flexible material sheet is perforated by small as to prevent deflation of the top inflatable mattress. diameterperforations such as pin holes at theload imprint [0010] In another embodiment a top sheet is provided area. having a width, a length, and peripheral edges, an inter- [0005] In U. S. Patent No. 5,561,873, issued 45to mediate, barrier sheet having the same width, the same Weedling, provides an inflatable flexible pallet within length, and peripheral edges, and a bottom sheet having which an array of structurally interrelated inflatable cham- the same width, the same length, peripheral edges and bers are formed to support a load when inflated. The a plurality of perforations. A first perimeter band is seal- flexible pallet is configured to resist lateral and longitudi- ingly fastened between the peripheral edges of the top nal shrinkage of the load support surface, as well as bal- 50 and barrier sheets and a second perimeter band is seal- looning and hot dogging. Rotational instability is also re- ingly fastened between the peripheral edges of the bar- duced by providing a greater load surface support area. rier and bottom sheets. The peripheral edges of the top, [0006] In U.S. Patent No. 6,073,291, issued to Davis, barrier, and bottom sheets are sealingly fastened to the an inflatable medical patient transfer apparatus is dis- respective perimeter bands by heat sealing. A plurality closed that has a combination of transverse partition55 of baffles, each having a width and a length, are attached members and a raised perimeter section to reduce del- to an inner surface of the top sheet and the barrier sheet eterious ballooning and uneven inflation as well as quick so as to be oriented between the top sheet and the barrier emergency deflation. Additional differentially inflatable sheet. A second plurality of baffles, each having a width 2 3 EP 2 601 863 A2 4 and a length, are attached to an inner surface of the bar- well as derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "down- rier sheet and an inner surface of the bottom sheet so as wardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to to be oriented between the barrier sheet and the bottom the orientation as then described or as shown in the draw- sheet. One or more inlet/ outlet openings are located with- ing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for in the perimeter bands so that the double chambered 5 convenience of description and normally are not intended transfer mattress may be inflated or deflated. Advanta- to require a particular orientation. Terms including "in- geously, oneor more one- wayvalves are locatedthrough wardly" versus "outwardly," "longitudinal" versus "lateral" the barrier sheet so as to provide selective air flow com- and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another munication between a first chamber formed between the or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center top sheet, the barrier sheet, and the first perimeter band 10 of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attach- and a second chamber formed between the barrier sheet, ments, coupling and the like, such as "connected" and the bottom sheet, and the second perimeter band. In this "interconnected," refer to a relationship wherein struc- way, an inlet/outlet located in the first perimeter band tures are secured or attached to one another either di- may be closed-off from the source of pressurized air so rectly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well that the second chamber deflates by air escaping through 15 as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, the plurlaity of holes or perforations. As the second cham- unless expressly described otherwise. The term "opera- ber deflates, the one or more one-way valves are actu- tively connected" is such an attachment, coupling or con- ated so as to present deflation of the first chamber.